Balanced steam-trap.



N0.'786 ,238. PATENTED MAR. 28, 1905.

F. A. SIMONDS.

BALANCED STEAM TRAP. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 6. 1904. RENEWED DEG. 27, 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented March 28, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

FRANK A. SIMONDS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRI) TO CLARA D. BURNOP, OF ALBANY, NEIV YORK.

BALANCED STEAM-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 786,238, dated March 28, 1905. Application filed May 6. 1904. Renewed December 2'7, 1904. Serial No. 288,419.

To a whom it may 0072007 77,:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. SIMoNDs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Balanced Steam-'1 raps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in steam-traps, and more particularly to the style of steam-trap shown in my application filed 5 February 29, 1904:, Serial No. 195,878; and

the object of my present invention is to provide the device with a balanced valve, whereby it will operate successfully under various pressures; to provide means for adjusting the same, and to provide the device with various new and useful features.

My invention consists in the combination and arrangement of the valves and means for adjusting the same, as will more fully appear 5 by reference to the accompanying drawings,

in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of a device embodying my invention, taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2, an elevation of the same;

3 Fig. 3, a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4:, the same on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 a detail of the upper valve in plan view.

Like numerals refer to like parts in all of the figures.

1 represents the case, 2 the bed-plate, having a central opening closed by the lower valve, 3 the transverse passage beneath the bed-plate divided by a partition 4, 5 the open- 4 ing from the inlet side of the partition to the case, 6 the transverse chamber, 7 the screen in the chamber, and 10 the float, all substantially the same as shown in said application.

In my present device the chamber 1 above the case 1 is cut off from connection with the case by a valve 13 of substantially the same area as the lower valve 8. J

15 is an upwardly-projecting stem on the valve 13 and having a transverse nick 17,

whereby the valve may be turned with a screw- 5 driver Whenever the closure 16 is removed. Extending downward from the valve 13 is a tube 9, on which the float 10 is mounted. A screw-threaded opening extends through the valve 8 and in alinement with the opening 12 of the tube. Inclined openings 14: connect the interior of the tube with the interior of the chamber 1*, and these openings are closed more or less, as occasion requires, by means of a disk 20, having corresponding openings and rotative about the stem 15 to adjust said openings. A continuous passage is thus afl'orded from the chamber I to the exit side of the passage beneath the bed-plate and regulated by the disk 20. The valve 8 is attached to the tube 6 5 9 by means of a suitable coupling-band l1 and vertically adjusted by means of screw-threads on the stem of the valve engaging like threads in the band. Below the valve 8 is a removable plug 19, whereby a screw may be inserted in 7 the screw-threaded opening of the valve to hold the valve firmly on its seat while adjusting the distance between the valves by means of a screw-driver inserted in the nick 17. By such adjustment both valves are seated at the same time or the valve 13 can be slightly raised ofl its seat to form an air-vent for the upper part of the case, and the valves are perfectly balanced, so that the float 10 will promptly open the same whenever water ac- 3O cumulates in the case, the pressure downward on the valve 8 being balanced by an equal upward pressure on the valve 13 and the pressure or vacuum on the exit side of the passage 3 and in the chamber 1 being always equal 5 by virtue of the connecting-passage through the openings 14, the interior 12 of the tube, and the opening of the valve 8. I am thus able to provide whatever desired vent may be required for the air at the upper part of the 9 case and also able to accurately adjust the valves on their respective seats and can operate the valve under high pressures without overcoming the buoyancy of the float.

To prevent escape of steam when the float opens the valves to discharge water from the case, the disk is adjusted to partially close the openings 14, leaving only enough opening to draw off the air and balance the opposing pressures in the exit side 3 and the chamber 1.

in operation when there is not sufficient water in the case to raise the float the lower valve will be wholly closed and the upper valve will permit a slight escape to draw off the air only. \Vhenever suflicient water accumulates in the case to raise the float, the valves being balanced between equal opposing pressures or vacuums or both, they will open freely regardless of any pressure or vacuum conditions. Both valves will simultaneously open, the lower valve permitting the escape of the water and the upper valve permitting the escape of any remaining air. As the water escapes the float will be lowered and the valves again assume the closed position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what 1 claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a case, openings in the top and bottom of the case, valves to close said openings and connected to each other, a float to operate the valves, a closed chamber above the upper valve, an exit below the lower valve, and a passage extending'froni the cham: ber to the exit.

2. The combination of a case having top and bottom openings, valves to close the said openings, means for adjustably connecting the valves to each other, a closed chai'nber above the upper valve, an exit below the lower valve, a passage extending from the chamber to the exit, and a float to operate the valves.

3. The combination of a case having top and bottom openings, valves to close said openings, means for connecting said valves, an opening extending through the valves and connecting mcans,a closed cham ber above the upper valve, and a float to operate the valves.

4. The combination of a case having top and bottom openings, valves for closing said openings and connected to each other to move simultaneously, a float to operate said valves, a chamber above the upper valve and an exit below the lower valve, a passage extending from the chamber to the exit, and means for adjusting the opening of said passage.

5. The combination of a case having top and bottom openings, valves to close said openings, a tube connecting said valves, a central opening through the lower valve, diagonal openings through the upper valve, a disk rotative on the upper valve and having corresponding openings, a closed chamber above the upper valve, and a float to operate the valves.

6. The combination of a case having top and bottom openings, valves to close said openings, longitudinally-adjustable means for connecting said valves, a closed chamber above the upper valve, an exit below the lower valve, and a passage extending from the chamber to the exit.

7 The combination of a case having upper and lower openings, valves to close said openings, transversely-divided means for connecting said valves and having screw-threads, a screw-threaded band surrounding said means, means for holding one of the valves to its seat, and means for rotating the other valve and a part of the connecting means.

8. The combination of a case having top and bottom openings, an exit-passage below the case, valves to close said openings, a screwthreaded opening in one valve, a removable plug opposite said opening, a stem on the other valve and a nick in the stem, a closed chamber above the upper valve, means for connecting the valves, an opening through the upper valve and said means, and a float to operate the valves.

9. The combination of acase having top and bottom openings, valves to close said openings and adjustably connected to each other, a tube connecting said valves and transversely divided, a coupling-band adjustably connecting the tube, diagonal openings through the upper valve, and an axial opening in the lower valve, a disk rotative on the upper valve and having corresponding openings, a chamber inclosing the upper valve, and a float to operate the valves.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK A. SIMONDS.

Witnesses:

LUTHER V. MoUL'roN, PALMER A. JONES. 

